Design team picked for DART Blue Line work

Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) has selected Blue Alliance Partners (BAP) as lead designer for the $101 million South Oak Cliff Extension 3 project, an extension of DART’s Blue Line light rail transit system. BAP is a joint venture of HNTB and Dikita Enterprises, Inc.

The joint venture team, in a statement, says it will manage the $13.8 million design services contract, which includes engineering, architectural design services, and construction management.

“We’ve assembled a highly qualified, diverse team whose expertise will be instrumental in delivering DART’s high-profile project on time and within budget,” said Steve Knobbe, vice president of Kansas City, Mo.-based HNTB. “Our collaborative approach will help DART respond to regional growth demands and provide alternative transportation options to residents in the southern sector of the DFW Metroplex."

Scheduled for completion in December 2016, the neary three-mile SOC-3 line section will extend the Blue Line south from Ledbetter Station toward the University of North Texas Dallas campus. The project also includes renovation of the Ledbetter station in addition to two new DART stations.The SOC-3 project will complete DART’s 96-mile rail system, the joint venture said.

"We’ve worked with DART for more than 26 years, and we’re excited to continue our relationship with them through our partnership with HNTB,” said Dallas-based Dikita Enterprises President and CEO Eve Williams. “Our partnership with HNTB on this public transportation initiative leverages our reputation for meeting aggressive schedules, effectively managing costs and assembling multi-disciplined project teams.”